NO GOING BACK ON AGIP OVER ITALY's GUN BOATS OFFER, SAYS MEND

THE Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), a major insurgent network in the Niger Delta, Nigeria's volatile oil and gas region, says it will certainly take on the Italian oil major, Agip, since the oil, company's government has offered to provide soldiers operating in the region two sophisticated assault gun boats.

Italian Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, recently claimed that his country will be willing to offer Nigeria's Armed Forces two attack boats to aid their battle against terror in the Niger Delta. 

But MEND Spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, in an on-line statement on Wednesday, said the Nigerian military ''is waging an unjust war against the people of the Niger Delta region''.

According to them, ''at a time when groups like the Coventry Cathedral and others are working towards the path of dialogue, peace and reconciliation, Italy, like the British government believes that the best way to keep the blood oil flowing from the Niger Delta is by supporting an undisciplined army and an illegitimate government to oppress a people long marginalized and raped''.

Continuing, MEND said, ''we know that the attack boats are like samples for the future purchase of similar ones to patronize the Italian boat manufacturers, and the receivers are too blind and foolish to see that this is just another commercial Trojan horse''.

But yesterday, Gbomo in an on-line statement to our correspondent said it has come to their notice that ''an unscrupulous individual popularly known as 'Octopus' has been reassuring Agip that he can reverse the planned attack on Italy's business interest in the Niger Delta''.

According to the insurgent group, ''this man is the same person who delivered the ransom money on behalf of the Dakouru family and the first to deny publicly about any ransom payment. For the benefit of doubt, we want to reiterate once again our resolve to bring pain to Italian businesses at the appropriate time''.

Continuing, the spokesman said, ''MEND has rebuffed the monetary offer and plea by Octopus and his criminal cohorts inside Agip to reverse our decision. It is rather unfortunate that instead of coming to Nigeria with an olive branch, the Italian minister chose to come with a Greek gift that will now lead to a bigger oil war''.

''His statement shows clearly that the Italian government has again chosen to partner with the wrong side like Mussolini did. At the end of this war, when the Niger Delta is emancipated, we will only remember those countries that stood on the side of justice'', they said.